Tonsorial device



w A L C S L O H N ToNsoRIAL DEVICE Filed Feb. 8, 1945 Patented Oct. 15,1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TON SORIAL DEVICE Neil Holsclaw, LosAngeles, Calif., assignor of one-half to Fred E. Sudlow, Rock Island,Ill.

Application February 8, 1945, Serial No. 576,795

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in haircutting devices and moreparticularly to an implement having all the features of a hair clipper,a comb and a pair of shears embodied in a unitary device, all incooperative relationship to each other.

When cutting a head of hair, normally a pair of scissors, a hairclipper, and a comb are used to do the job. The comb must be used wheneither the clipper or the scissors is used; therefore, to do the jobboth hands of the hair cutter must be used at all times. The comb isnormally used to lift the hair to a desired length, then the hair is outover the comb, either with a pair of shears or a clipper. It is the mainobject of this invention to combine all of these tools in one implementand to produce a device which is far superior to known devices; toprovide such a device which is so simple that any one can cut his ownhead of hair Without having the skill of an expert barber; to providesuch a device in which both sides of the clipper may be used, therebyproducing a tool which may be used with either the left or right-hand ofthe operator.

Other objects of this invention are to provide a new and improved toolwhich may be used either as a clipper, a comb or a shears, all threebeing combined in a unitary structure; to provide a device of thischaracter having a pair ofA coacting elongated toothed cutter members,each member arranged to be reciprocated in opposite directionssimultaneously by manipulation of a pair of pivoted handle members; toprovide a device of this character having a resilient clip member toretain the cutter members in assembled relationship; to provide a deviceof this character having no protruding parts extending beyond the outerfaces of the cutter members; to provide a device of this characterwherein the cutter members are operable on two faces thereof; to

provide a device of this character having a pair of pivoted handles anda pair of link arms, each pivotally secured at one end to one of thehandles and at the other end to one of the cutter members respectively,and spaced apart by a stationary guide bar whereby to cause each cuttermember to reciprocate in an opposite direction upon manipulation of thehandles; and to pro- Vide a device of this character which is simple inconstruction and operation and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A specific embodiment of this invention is shown in the accompanyingdrawing wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of my invention looking down at thecutter teeth.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof. I

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are cross-sectional views taken on the lines 3 3, 1-4, 5-5 and B--I respectively of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view showing an edge of the cutters andparticularly the resilient clip means for holding the cutters inassembled relation.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the handle members I and 2 arepivotally held together in operative relation by bolt 3 in the usualmanner and in form approximate corresponding parts of shears orscissors. The stationary guide' bar 4, is generally of I-shapedconstruction in .cross-section te form a pair of channels or slideways 5and 6, and is provided with a lateral extension 'E having a bore 8therein. The extension portion I of the guide bar 4 is positionedbetween the handle members I and. 2 and held ytherebetween by the bolt 3which is threaded through the bore 8.

A pair of link arms 9 and IB are arranged to seat in the channels orslideways 5 and Brespectively and to be shiftable therein. The terminalends of each of links 9 and I0 are secured to the handle members 2 and Irespectively by rivets, or the like, I I and I2 respectively, so as toimpart reciprocating movement to the link arms upon the closing of thehandle members I and 2. Referring to Fig. 2, it will be apparent thatwhen handle member I is moved towards handle mem-'- ber 2, the movementof link arm I0 will be to the left, while the movement of handle memberI will cause the link arm 9 to move towards the right; therefore, thelink arms will move in opposite directions upon the closing of thehandle members I and 2.

The handle members I and 2 will automatically open or return to thepositionshown in Fig. 2 by the action of the compression spring I3 whichis secured therebetween in any suitable manner.

The cutters or toothed members I4 and I5 are identical in design andconstruction, having relatively long slightly tapered teeth I6, thetapers also running laterally (see both Figs. l and 2) so that whenplaced in coacting relation to each other, the composite structurethereof resembles a wide toothed comb. The members I4 and I5 are eachrespectively provided with a channel I'I and I8, whereby to form aslideway for the guide bar 4, and position the members I4 and I5 withrespect to each other.

The toothed members I4 and I5 are secured to link arms 9 and I0respectively by rivets, or the like, I9 and 20 respectively,wherebythe-movement of link arms 9 and I9 is translated to the toothedmembers I4 and I5 respectively.

Each toothed member I4 and I5 is recessed and provided with cut-outportions 2I and grooves 22, whereby to receive spring clips 23 whichretain the members I4 and I5 in coactive relationship. As will beapparent from Figs. 3 and 6, the spring clips are spaced away from anddo not bear against the outer faces of the members I and Iii. Only thefree ends of the clips 23 bear against the members I5 and I6 and then inthe groove 22, whereby to cause the inner faces of the members I4 and I5to abut against each other. Maximum tension is thereby exerted to causethe members I5 and I5 to clip or cut the hair entering,r between theteeth I 6, without the need of the usual adjusting screw and the like.

When assembled the teeth I6 of both members I4 and I5 are in mutualalinement with each other; hence take on the appearance of a comb andthus may be used as such when combing the hair. When making a cut, thevhair is rst combed downwardly in the direction of the shoulders tostraighten the same, then the device is moved in the opposite directionto lift the hair away from the scalp and outwardly to the positiondesired, so that the user may cut off the amount of hair he wants, byclosing the handles I and 2. Whilethe handles are still closed thedevice is withdrawn from the head and the handles allowed to be openedby releasing the pressure of the fingers and allowing the spring toforce the handles outwardly. Now the hair is again "combed with thedevice to straighten the hair and the cutting step again repeated.

It is, therefore, apparent that this device does the work of the usualscissors, clipper and comb and it performs the function of all three ofthese devices and the device is capable of manipulation with the use ofonly one hand.

The long teeth, like a comb, pick up the hair and hold it firmly andperfectly therebetween until the handles are closed to make the cut. Asthe teeth are long and sturdy, they allow the hair that has beenpreviously cut by the device to fall through the openings between theteeth so that only the hair which is desired to be cut remains betweenthe teeth for clipping.

It can readily be seen that by placing one of the outer faces of theteeth fiat against the neck or skin of the user the device acts as aclipper.

It is also apparent from the drawing and the foregoing description thatthere are no bolts, screws, or the like in or about the members I4 andI5; therefore, there are no protruding parts extending beyond the outerfaces of the members I4 and I5. As the outer faces of the cutter combmembers I4 and I5 are free of protuberances of any character, the devicewill slide smoothly and freely over the skin, regardless of Whether theouter face of the member I4 or the outer face of the member I5 is placedadjacent the skin. Therefore, the hair cannot catch hold of the sides ofthe comb or become entangled in any protuberance. From this it will beapparent that the device may be used by either the Vright or lefthand ofthe user. Regardless of whether or not the device is gripped in eitherhand, the cutting action of the members I4 and I5 will be the same as byclosing the handles I and 2, the handles translate movement to both themembers where by each one reciprocates in a direction opposite to thatof the other simultaneously.

EachV tooth of the cutter members I4 and I5 is provided with a bluntpoint whereby to prevent scratching or cutting the skin of the user.This feature is especially shown in Fig. 3. It is also to be noted inFig. 3 that each tooth is tapered on three of its four sides, the taperrunning to the tip or free end of the tooth, while the fourth side,which is the inner face of the tooth, lies in a vertical plane. The tipor free end of the tooth is rounded to form a blunt point.

It will be understood that numerous details of the invention hereinshown and described may be altered or omitted without departing from thespirit of the invention as defined by the following claims.

I claim: I

1. In a device of the class described, a longitudinally extending guidemeans, a pair of reciprocating co-acting cutter members slidable on saidguide means, means to hold said members in co-acting relationship, apair of pivoted handlemembers in line with said guide means, and meansconnecting said handles and cutter members to produce reciprocatingmovement of said cutter members in opposite directions relative to eachother and toward and away from said handles, upon operation of thehandles.

2. The device according to claim l wherein said cutter members areretained in assembled position and kept under tension by means of clipsprings.

3. A device of the class described comprising a pair of coacting cuttermembers each having elongated toothed members in face to facerelationship, a pair of handles pivotally connected together and havinga stationary, longitudinally extending guide bar extending therefrom andsecured between said handles by said pivot, a pair of link arms, one oneach side of said guide bar and pivotally connected one to each of saidhandles, said cutter members being positioned one on each side of thefree end of said guide bar and connected one to each of said link arms,and resilient clip means for securing said cutter members to said guidebar in assembled operative rc lationship; whereby when said handles aremanipulated, each of said cutter members will be reciprocatedsimultaneously in opposite directions.'

4. A device of the character described comprising a pair of handlemembers pivotally held together at one end, an elongated stationaryguide bar extending forwardly from said handles and secured therebetweenby said handle pivot, a pair of link arms positioned one on each side ofsaidguide bar, one of said link arms being secured at one end to one ofsaid handle members, and the other of said link arms being secured atone end to the other of said handle members, a pair of co-actingslidable elongated toothed members of identical design arranged one oneach side of said guide bar, and each secured to the free end of one ofsaid link arms respectively, whereby upon manipulation of said handlemembers, each of said toothed members will reciprocate in oppositedirections simultaneously, and spring clip means for retaining saidtoothed members in assembled operative position on said guide bar.

5. The device according to claim 4 wherein each of said toothed membersis provided with a horizontally extending channel for the reception ofsaid guide bar.

6. The device according to claim 4 wherein said guide bar is generallyI-shaped in cross-section, whereby to form slideways on both sidesthereof for the reception of said link arms.

7. A device of the class described comprising a pair of cooperatingcutter members each having forwardly projecting elongated spaced teeth,means for reciprocating each of the cutter members simultaneously inopposite directions, three sides of each tooth of each of said cuttermembers being tapered toward the free end thereof, the inner face ofeach tooth lying in a fiat plane and the free end being rounded wherebyeach tooth is provided with a blunt point.

8. In a device of the class described comprising a pair of cooperatingcutter members each having forwardly projecting elongated spaced teeth,means for reciprocating each of the cutter members simultaneously inopposite directions, three edges of each tooth of each of said cuttermembers being tapered toward the free end thereof, the inner face ofeach tooth lying in a flat plane to form a shearing face, and theopposed 10 teeth being slightly spaced at their tips.

NEIL HOLSCLAW.

